Breaking the Magic Spell

A stimulating contribution to the critical literature of folk and fairy tales.

~Children's Literature Association Quarterly

The name Jack Zipes is synonymous with highly regarded and widely read anthologies and critiques of fairy tales.

~Choice

All libraries should acquire this new edition of one of the most influential texts in the field.

~Choice

Fairy Tales are a highly fashionable study today for literary scholars as well as folklorists, and another new book shows what a range of interest can be evoked by them. This time in Jack Zipes' interesting and vigorous study.

~Encounter

Zipes reveals the extraordinary breadth of his acquaintance with both recent and classic literature in the field of folk and fairytale research.

~Fabula

Zipes manages the impressive trick of communicating both detail and overview without simplifying either... the serious folklorist should should defnitely have this on his bookshelf.

~Fortean Times

Zipes ably demonstrates that moral, political, religious, and other ideologies have shaped these apparently innocent narratives.

~Lore and Language

This problematic, provocative study will undoubtedly provide stimulating reading for many audiences.

~Romantic Movement

Zipes has written a stimulating and important contribution to the sociology of popular literature.

~Sociological Review

Places traditional tales in their socio-political, economic and cultural contexts.

~Teacher Librarian

Folklorists, educators and historians will particularly find this resource to be valuable. But educators and parents will also find Zipes's ideas intriguing.

~Elizabeth Herron, Folks and Fairies in Action (resourcecenterblog.wordpress.com)